Tldr; I’m in a job I love(d) but the pay is rubbish and there’s been a culture change driven by one leader. I’ve been offered a new job with lots more money, but my employer wants me to stay and seem to be finally recognising my worth and promising to fix the mess. What on earth do I do?
I work in a professional office based role in the technology sector, have been with my current employer for around 3 years - initially joined in a very junior role after having to close my business (operating in an unrelated field) post-Covid, as I’d been out of this industry for 10+ years, felt I needed to rebuild my skills and being totally honest because I needed a job and income quickly.
The business were frank at interview that they were slightly concerned that as I was technically so overqualified I may not be committed long term, but accepted my assurances and I think realised they were getting a lot of experience for very little cost - albeit a little rusty due to the time away. After 6 months in the role, an excellent opportunity came up internally, I stepped up and have built and expanded that new role considerably, delivering excellent results. The role did come with increased recognition of seniority and a little extra pay, but not massively - and whilst it perhaps reflected what it was initially advertised as, it certainly does’t reflect what I’ve built it up to and the contribution I make.
There was a change of leadership in my ‘new’ department 18 months ago, and whilst the new leader has certainly helped deliver improved commercial outcomes they’ve also totally changed the culture - lots of oppressive micromanagement, massively stretched resources with seemingly no urgency to plug the gaps and immense operational challenges which could have completely derailed the business if it wasn’t for the team breaking their backs covering multiple roles and putting in lots of additional work to make sure we didn’t fail.
Having been as happy as I was previously in my role, I’d almost accepted the less than ideal pay and recognition as a tradeoff for that happiness in my work, as felt the culture was more important to me than money. As a result I’d not even been casually looking at other opportunities.
Now however it feels like the worst of both worlds! I have recently raised my concerns at director level, and I know others on the team have done the same.
After raising concerns but before receiving any feedback or there being any opportunity for action, I was contacted by a recruiter on behalf of another company, not a direct competitor but operating in the same space. Normally I’d not have even read the message, but given the situation I did follow up, and in a very short space of time completed an interview process which resulted in being offered a role with increased seniority and a remarkable package, more than double my current earnings! It felt like a total no-brainer, so I accepted and tendered my notice.
Clearly knowing the contribution I make, my current employer are very keen to retain me. Since submitting my notice I’ve been approached my lots of directors and senior managers positively gushing about how much I bring to the business, how devastated they’d be to lose me etc. I’ve been quite blunt that my reasons are predominantly around the change of culture and the leadership issues, with the money being secondary although it’s very much opened my eyes to what I could earn in a similar role elsewhere and how underpaid I am currently.
There have been lots of promises about putting things in place to improve, and even a suggestion that the leader causing the issues may exit the business given the number of concerns being raised by numerous employees. And I’m fully expecting them to make a counter offer financially too.
My dilemma is that I feel my worth is only being recognised because I was leaving, and perhaps my concerns are only being acknowledged and addressed too - although in fairness given how quickly this has all happened there had been very little opportunity to see what would or wouldn’t be done beforehand. Now it may be that they come back with a counter which doesn’t come close (and I actually think that’s likely) or that not enough can or will be done to improve the working environment and if that’s the case then it will only confirm my decision, but on the flip side they could also offer something which would be tempting. If they do, I’m left in a quandary as I’d potentially be giving up the security of a job I know well and have poured so much of myself into, for the great unknown…and we all know the grass isn’t always greener (that said, right now without changes it’d have to be cracked and broken concrete with the odd weed to be less green).
My current employer are very well established, financially secure and I’d expect to continue to thrive for the long term. The company who have made me the offer have in the past experienced difficulties, however have restructured and come out the other side seemingly in a good place on the surface, but that’s another concern.
As thing stand I’m sticking to my guns and actually feeling relieved and excited by a new challenge, but there are those niggling concerns about giving up what I know, what I have long term plans for and a culture in the wider business outside of my department which I do love, potentially jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, and wondering whether I can recapture my passion if things do change and they can recognise my value.
I know I’ve got to do what’s right for me, but I really don’t know what that is. Sorry I know this has been a ramble, but any suggestions to help me channel and rationalise my thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!